In Sri Lankan indigenous medicine (Deshiya Wedakama) and traditional Ayurvedic practice, medicinal herbal oils – correctly called "Tailya" – play a central role in treatment. These medicinal preparations are fundamentally different from essential oils, as they are produced through complex processes in which healing plants are cooked into base oils over extended periods. This allows the therapeutic properties of the plants to be extracted and transformed.

Traditional Preparation Methods

Sri Lankan herbal Tailya follow specific traditional production techniques:

Tailya Paka (Oil decoction method)

The most common method involves several steps:

• Preparation of a herbal decoction (Kashaya) with water

• Combination of this decoction with a base oil (typically sesame or coconut oil)

• Addition of herbal pastes (Kalka) made from fresh medicinal plants

• Slow cooking of the mixture, often over several days, until all water has evaporated

• Filtration and enhancement with special minerals or herbs

Traditional Processing

Classical texts specify precise cooking durations, often measured not in hours but by reduction ratios. Many Tailya go through various "Paka" stages (cooking phases), which modify their chemical properties through controlled heat.

Main Herbal Oils in Sri Lankan Medicine

Narayana Tailya

One of the most revered healing oils in Sri Lankan medicine, especially for neurological disorders.
Ingredients: Over 100 herbs, including Bala (Sida cordifolia), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and numerous endemic plants.
Traditional uses:

• Treatment of paralysis and nerve disorders

• Strengthening of weakened muscles

• Treatment of nerve pain

• Therapy for muscle atrophy

• Recovery after strokes
  Preparation: A labor-intensive 7-day process with stepwise herbal addition

Vishnu Tailya

A powerful therapeutic oil for joint and bone diseases.
Ingredients: Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Bala, and many Sri Lankan highland herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Arthritis and joint inflammation

• Bone healing

• Muscle and joint pain

• Gout and uric acid issues

• Rehabilitation after injury
  Preparation: Multiple decoctions with specific therapeutic properties

Kottamchukkadi Tailya

A warming oil used for muscle pain and Vata disorders.
Ingredients: Kottam (Saussurea lappa), Chukku (dried ginger), and other warming herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Muscle tension

• Sciatica pain

• Inflammatory joint complaints

• Recovery after physical exertion
  Preparation: Series of decoctions focusing on warming herbs

Koranda Tailya

An anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving specialty oil.
Ingredients: Koranda (Barringtonia racemosa), Dashamula (ten roots), and other endemic herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Chronic joint inflammation

• Back pain

• Degenerative joint diseases

• Sports injuries
  Preparation: Specialized 3-day process with temperature-controlled herbal infusion

Maha Koranda Tailya

A strengthened version of Koranda Tailya for more severe conditions.
Ingredients: Koranda, Shallaki (Boswellia serrata), Ashwagandha, and other potent endemic herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Severe arthritis

• Chronic inflammatory conditions

• Nerve pain

• Degenerative joint issues

• Recovery from serious injuries
  Preparation: Complex 7-step process aligned with lunar phases

Nilgundadi Tailya

A specialty oil for neurological and mental health concerns.
Ingredients: Nilgundi (Vitex negundo), Brahmi, Vacha, and other nerve-strengthening herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Nerve disorders

• Anxiety and stress

• Sleep disorders

• Headaches

• Mental balance
  Preparation: Special extraction to maximize neuroactive properties

Sacharadi Tailya

A healing oil for skin diseases.
Ingredients: Sachara (Barleria prionitis), turmeric, neem, and other skin-healing herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Eczema, psoriasis

• Fungal infections

• Chronic skin ulcers

• Scabies

• Skin care and protection
  Preparation: Gentle extraction of skin-active compounds

Chandanadi Tailya

A cooling oil for Pitta disorders and inflammatory conditions.
Ingredients: Sandalwood, vetiver, and other cooling herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Skin inflammations

• Burning sensations

• Pitta-related illnesses

• Urinary tract infections

• Cooling during hot seasons
  Preparation: Minimal heat processing to preserve cooling properties

Dhanwantaram Tailya

A rejuvenating oil, especially for postnatal care.
Ingredients: Over 50 herbs, including Ashwagandha, Bala, and strengthening plants.
Traditional uses:

• Postnatal recovery

• Strengthening of reproductive organs

• General regeneration

• Recovery after chronic illness
  Preparation: Original formula with 101 herbs, regionally adapted

Pinda Tailya

Another oil for nerve and mental health.
Ingredients: Brahmi, Vacha, and various neuroactive plants.
Traditional uses:

• Memory and cognitive enhancement

• Nervous system disorders

• Mental illnesses

• Head trauma

• Epileptic seizures
  Preparation: Includes components of medicated ghee

Sudarshana Tailya

An oil for fevers and infectious diseases.
Ingredients: Kirata, Guduchi, and many bitter, antimicrobial herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Chronic fever

• Infections

• Liver support

• Blood purification

• Immune system support
  Preparation: Extraction using bitter herbs in a special decoction method

Karpooradi Tailya

An oil for respiratory illnesses.
Ingredients: Camphor, eucalyptus, clove, and other respiratory herbs.
Traditional uses:

• Sinusitis

• Respiratory infections

• Asthma

• Chronic cough

• Allergic respiratory disorders
  Preparation: Carefully processed to retain volatile compounds

Unique Tailya from Endemic Sri Lankan Plants

Kothala Himbutu Tailya

From Kothala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata), endemic to Sri Lanka.
Uses:

• Diabetes

• Weight regulation

• Metabolic regulation

• Liver support

• Cholesterol management

Binkohomba Tailya

From Binkohomba (Munronia pinnata).
Uses:

• Chronic fever

• Skin conditions

• Blood purification

• Immune modulation

• Liver disease

Weniwalgetha Tailya

From Weniwelgeta (Coscinium fenestratum).
Uses:

• Infectious diseases

• Diabetes

• Digestive support

• Wound healing

• Blood purification

Therapeutic Applications in Sri Lankan Medicine

Abhyanga (Oil Massage) – Specific massage techniques using Tailya based on condition and constitution:

• Sarvanga Abhyanga (Full body)

• Shiro Abhyanga (Head)

• Padabhyanga (Feet)

• Kati Basti (Lower back)

• Janu Basti (Knees)

Shirodhara – Continuous oil pouring on the forehead using oils like:

• Brahmi Tailya

• Ksheerabala

• Chandanadi

• Pinda Tailya

• Nilgundadi Tailya

Pizhichil – Whole body treatment with warm oil using:

• Dhanwantaram Tailya

• Narayana Tailya

• Balaswagandhadi

• Kottamchukkadi Tailya

• Maha Koranda Tailya

Nasyam – Nasal administration of Tailya for head and throat disorders using:

• Anu Tailam

• Shadbindu

• Karpooradi Tailya

• Nilgundadi Tailya

Scientific Research on Sri Lankan Tailya

• Kottamchukkadi Tailya: Proven anti-inflammatory effects with fewer side effects than conventional medications

• Narayana Tailya: Neuroprotective effects demonstrated in lab studies

• Dhanwantaram Tailya: Shown to improve postnatal recovery in clinical studies

• Binkohomba Tailya: Antimicrobial action against resistant pathogens

• Koranda Tailya: Discovery of new anti-inflammatory compounds

• Nilgundadi Tailya: Positive results in anxiety and sleep disorders

The complex preparation processes create synergistic effects that cannot be achieved with simple extractions.

Preserving Traditional Knowledge

• Documentation projects for precise recording of preparation methods

• Scientific analysis of ingredients

• Sustainable cultivation of endangered medicinal plants

• Training programs for young practitioners

Preserving this knowledge not only protects a cultural heritage but also contributes to the evolution of global healing methods.

About Oil Production at Purana Ayurveda

• All oils are produced in Sri Lanka using locally harvested herbs

• Crafted by traditional physicians, not industrial manufacturers

• Use of fresh herbs from Sri Lankan forests

• Time-intensive production with 100% healing potency

• Authentic methods preserving a valuable medical treasure